Channel D Seta Piccolo DAC Buffer and More...

Rob Robinson of Channel D, designer of the popular Pure Music media player software and Pure Vinyl ripping software for the Mac, had his new battery powered Seta Piccolo DAC Buffer ($1,599) on display. The DAC Buffer is essentially a match maker for people looking to drive their power amp directly with their DAC and it works its match-making XLR input/output magic by optimizing your system gain in 6 dB steps from -6 to -30 dB all in the analog domain. This allows you to run your computer or DAC's digital volume control at its optimum level. Rob Robinson said, "The new Seta Piccola DAC Buffer solves a critical signal quality bottleneck problem for audiophiles who wish to connect their computer audio playback systems directly to their power amplifiers for a minimum signal path approach, while enjoying the
convenience and performance of a digital volume control without compromising sound quality."

Channel D also had two rooms with two very different systems. One system featured the always involving TAD E1 speakers ($29,800/pair) driven by a pair of Merrill Audio Veritas monoblocks ($12,000/pair) using a Mac Mini as server connected to the Lynx Hilo Reference A/D D/A Converter System ($2,495) via Firewire.

The other room had a system whose total cost maxed out at $3,500. This included the Impact Twin 24/192-capable AD/DA converter from TC Electronic, the Music Hall mmf-2.2 turntable with an upgraded acrylic platter and Ortofon Vivo Blue MM cartridge, an Emotiva XPA-200 amp, and a pair of Polk Audio RTi A1 speakers.

I would say that while the sound from each system was different, they were both enchanting each in their own way. Bravo!